Miami Hurricanes Football: Will the Real Jacory Harris Please Stand Up?

When local talent Jacory Harris committed to Miami in 2007, there was word all over town that he was going to be the next great Hurricanes quarterback.

He had all the accolades—30-0 as a starter in high school, received the Florida Mr. Football award and two state championships.

Harris and his team were even voted as national champions in his senior year.

He came to Miami in 2008 a highly touted three-star quarterback by Scout.com.

It started off with a hitch right away at Miami as he was forced to share time his freshman year with the previous winner of Mr. Football, Robert Marve.

Although Marve started 11 out of the 13 games, he decided to transfer in 2008, leaving Harris as the starter.

The 2009 season was when Harris shined, throwing for 3,352 yards and 24 touchdowns. He was only the seventh quarterback in Miami history to throw for over 3,000 yards in a season and the first since Ken Dorsey did it in 2002.

He lead the Hurricanes to a 9-4 record in his first starting season as quarterback. At the time, the possibilities seemed endless.

Although he also threw 17 interceptions for the year, it didn't seem as though it was that big of a deal, considering it was just his sophomore season.

There was no doubt looking into the future that the Hurricanes were going to be back in national contention.

We were all mistaken.

In just the second game of his junior season, everyone could see that he still had problems with interceptions as the Ohio State Buckeyes picked him off four times.

His lack of confidence started to show through during his junior year as the touchdown numbers grew smaller and his interception totals grew larger.

Harris would get hurt in the Virginia game, forcing him to miss the next three games. True freshman Stephen Morris did a pretty good job filling in for Harris the next few starts, but also had problems with interceptions.

Harris was finally given back his starting role in the bowl game against Notre Dame, but was quickly removed after going 4-7 with three interceptions.

Harris would end the season with just 1,793 yards, 14 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.

It's a new year now and with Harris serving his one-game suspension for accepting a booster's gifts, he is back in the starting role, a role he apparently won during fall practice.

There is no doubt in my mind that Harris has the football knowledge to produce a season he had in 2009, but it all starts with mentality, something he may never get back.

Going into Saturday's game against the Buckeyes, many of us are wondering which Jacory Harris we are going to see.

The freshman/sophomore quarterback that had unlimited potential and amazing confidence that led the Hurricanes to a 9-4 season or the junior quarterback that seemed dazed and confused every time he had the ball?

Only time will tell and it starts this Saturday against the Buckeyes.